Kenya’s Parliament closed a productive legislative session in April, marking a significant stride toward improved governance, financial transparency, and social welfare. The National Assembly passed five major Bills and introduced eight new ones, reflecting lawmakers’ commitment to reforms across key sectors.
A highlight of the session was the unanimous approval of the Anti-Money Laundering and Combating of Terrorism Financing Laws (Amendment) Bill (No. 5 of 2025). This critical legislation seeks to align Kenya’s financial framework with global standards. It enhances the powers of the Financial Reporting Centre and fosters inter-agency collaboration to detect and curb illicit financial flows. Speaker Moses Wetang’ula emphasized timely scrutiny of proposed laws, directing committees to fast-track reviews of newly introduced Bills.
Another significant achievement was the passage of the Division of Revenue Bill (No. 10 of 2025), which governs the equitable allocation of resources between the national and county governments. This Bill is key to ensuring continued delivery of public services at the county level.
To boost domestic revenue, Parliament adopted the Excise Duty (Amendment) Bill (No. 7 of 2025), imposing new taxes on alcohol, sugary drinks, and luxury items. The National Treasury projects this move could raise over Sh60 billion in the 2025/2026 fiscal year.
In a landmark step for social inclusion, MPs approved the Social Protection Bill (No. 12 of 2025), which establishes a unified framework for cash transfers, disability benefits, and emergency relief through a National Social Protection Council.
The National Assembly also passed the County Governments Additional Allocations Bill (Senate Bill No. 1 of 2025), enabling targeted grants and loans for health and infrastructure projects in counties.
Additional Bills advanced through critical stages, including amendments to the Basic Education and Treaty Making and Ratification Acts, aimed at promoting inclusive education and strengthening parliamentary oversight in foreign agreements.
Meanwhile, the Senate held a special session with Labour CS Alfred Mutua to address concerns over disability inclusion in public service. Senators called for accountability following the removal of the Disability Mainstreaming Indicator from government performance assessments.
The Hansard Association of Kenya (HAK) was also praised for strengthening legislative capacity through partnerships with academic institutions.
These developments underscore Parliament’s evolving role in building a transparent, accountable, and inclusive governance structure for Kenya.
